Read Online Texas Twilight by Caroline Fyffe - Free Book Online Page B

glance at the tan leather saddlebag at
his feet. Absentmindedly, she gathered her hair and pulled the mass
of locks over one shoulder.
    Luke reached for the saddlebag. He unbuckled
the clasp and withdrew a handful of letters and papers and started
shuffling through them. He handed the first post to Mark, who
reached for it with the hand that wasn’t stuffing a big chunk of
chocolate cake into his mouth.
    The posts to his ma and pa he set on the
table and several he slipped into his shirt pocket. Charity felt
her heart dropping as he came to the last white envelope. He looked
up at her, his forehead crinkled and brows arched over his dark
eyes as he handed the last one to Matt.
    She struggled, trying not to let her
disappointment show too much. “I’m really worried about John. He
used to write so often. It’s been months since his last post and
I’m afraid he might be in some sort of trouble.”
    Roady sat forward. “Probably just forgot,
Charity. With graduation, and moving to Rio Wells and all. He’s
trying to set up a practice, too. That must take some doing.”
    Charity shrugged. “What if he’s hurt or
something? We wouldn’t even know it. I just have this feeling
inside that he needs me.”
    Matt took a refill when Esperanza came back
with the coffee pot then turned his attention on his little sister.
“You need to face the fact that he’s not returning home to Y Knot.
He’s a grown man. And he’s chosen something other than ranching. No
crime in that.” He took a sip and set the cup back on the table. “I
know ma and pa were relieved that he got the position in Rio Wells
close to Uncle Winston and the family. Aren’t you going for a visit
soon?”
    Charity glanced away, hurt. That’s what the
plan had been, but he’d not gotten back to her with the dates. It
just wasn’t like him to do that to her. Something inside told her
that he needed her, but her other brothers would never understand
that. “Yes. We just haven’t firmed up the dates yet.”
    “Well, stop. Your letter will come any day
now when he finds a free moment to write,” Matt responded. “By the
way, we saw Brandon today. He asked when you’re planning to come to
town.”
    She
stood. Everyone had been throwing her and Brandon together for
years, ever since she was a girl and they realized she was sweet on
him. To be truthful, she was partial to Brandon and every single thing about him, but
sometimes she worried it was her brothers and the whole idea of
being part of the family and ranch that attracted him to her.
Marrying up would be an easy way to be part of the McCutcheon clan.
How could she know if he really loved her ? Being an orphan without much knowledge of his past must
make a man yearn for roots. It was understandable. Ever since he’d
ridden into Y Knot, and taken up residence, he’d been all but
adopted by all of them it seemed, and she was glad for it. She
hated to think it, but maybe he just wanted to make sure his spot
was permanent. “How is he?” she asked.
    “Fine. Been working hard. Just hired two new
deputies,” Mark added.
    “Two? Why?”
    Luke reached over and sliced himself a piece
of cake. “That’s what I wondered. But, he says the place is growing
and he needs ‘em.”
    Charity stood, just looking at the men. She
couldn’t calm the feeling growing inside her chest. John was in
some sort of trouble. She needed to find out what it was. “Oh, by
the way, I’ve finally decided to go to the finishing school in
Denver Ma and Pa have been after me to attend. Lacey’s School of
Proper Lady’s Etiquette. You remember?”
    They all looked up at her in surprise.
“What?”
    “Are you serious? I was led to believe you’d
die a despicable death before going there,” Luke said, seemingly
over the initial shock of her statement and wiping the crumbs from
his hands onto the napkin. “I can’t believe it.”
    “Well, it’s true. Mother and I talked it over
and she left the final decision up to